The psychiatrist who first diagnosed Lionel Desmond with PTSD says he was prone to falling back into his symptoms.
Dr. Vinod Joshi, a civilian contractor with the Canadian Armed Forces who treated Desmond for PTSD for more than 3 years, was the only person called on the fifth day of the Desmond Fatality Inquiry in Port Hawkesbury Tuesday.
Dr. Joshi says Desmond showed improvement with treatment but would consistently fall back.
“Anytime there was a difficult situation, workplace or relationship, his symptoms are getting get worse,” he says. “It appeared that any major psychosocial stressors was making his symptoms worse.”
Dr. Joshi says there was an undercurrent of marital issues through Desmond’s PTSD treatment.
He says Desmond’s concerns about his relationship with his wife, Shana Desmond, stressed him greatly.
“He was worried that she might not be fully committed to the relationship,” he says. “He was worried that she might leave him, but it didn’t seem like it was delusional or psychotic in nature.”
Dr. Joshi says it became clear over the course of treatment Desmond could not continue to operate as a solider.
He says that led to Desmond’s medical discharge from the Canadian Forces.
Dr. Joshi says the tragedy affected him as well.
“This is the worst experience I’ve had in terms one of my ex-patients,” he says. “This is the worst situation I’ve faced in my life.”
Testimony resumes in Port Hawkesbury Wednesday.
